Peer-reviewed article
Hippocampal volume and persistent distressing psychotic-like experiences across early adolescence: the moderating role of physical activity.
Ku BS, Arrant EJ, Damme KSF, Walker EF ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether brain structure (hippocampal volume) is linked to psychotic-like experiences in early adolescents, and whether physical activity protects against this risk. Using data from nearly 10,000 US teenagers, researchers found that smaller hippocampal volume was associated with more persistent distressing psychotic-like experiences. However, this association was weaker among youth who participated in team sports more frequently. The findings suggest that team sports participation may be a protective factor for adolescent mental health.
Key points
- Reduced right hippocampal volume was associated with greater odds of persistent distressing psychotic-like experiences in early adolescence
- Team sports participation moderated the relationship between hippocampal volume and psychotic-like experiences
- At higher levels of team sports participation, the association between reduced hippocampal volume and distressing psychotic-like experiences was no longer statistically significant
- Persistent distressing psychotic-like experiences in youth are associated with cognitive, functional, and psychiatric impairments
- The protective effect appears related to both physical activity and the social context of team-based activities
Limitations
This observational study cannot establish causal relationships or determine whether team sports directly prevent psychotic-like experiences or whether youth with better mental health are more likely to participate in team sports. The study relies on parent-reported physical activity data and cannot fully isolate the specific mechanisms by which team sports provide protection.
Abstract
Background Persistent distressing psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in youth are associated with cognitive, functional, and psychiatric impairments. Reduced hippocampal volume (HV) is a nonspecific neurodevelopmental risk marker across psychiatric disorders. While physical activity is associated with better mental health, the characteristics of physical activity most relevant to these outcomes remain unclear. This study examined whether HV is associated with persistent distressing PLEs in early adolescence and whether physical activity, particularly team sports, moderates this relationship. Methods Using data from 9476 Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study youth, this longitudinal study examined associations between HV (age 10) and persistent distressing PLEs (ages 10-13), and whether physical activity (age 10) moderated these associations. HV was derived from structural MRI. Physical activity type and frequency were parent-reported. PLEs were assessed using the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Child Version. Multilevel logistic regression models adjusted for intracranial volume, demographics, study site, and family. Results Reduced right HV was associated with greater odds of persistent distressing PLEs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 1-SD increase = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.98). Team sports participation moderated this association (interaction aOR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.14), such that it was no longer statistically significant at higher participation levels (+1 SD; β = 0.001, 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.01). Conclusions Reduced right HV was associated with persistent distressing PLEs, with a weaker association observed among youth with greater team sports participation, suggesting a potential role of physical activity and social context. Findings warrant further investigation of features of team-based activities as potential modifiable factors in future prevention research.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Team sports participation
- Population
- 9,476 adolescents aged 10-13 years from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study in the United States
Key finding
Reduced right hippocampal volume was associated with greater odds of persistent distressing PLEs (aOR = 0.91 per 1-SD increase, 95% CI: 0.85-0.98)
BS et al. · Europe PMC · 22 Sept 2026